Andre De Grasse ready to kick into playoff mode at world championships

Andre De Grasse is ready for the "playoffs."

The star sprinter is set to compete in the 200 metres and help Canada defend its title in the men's 4x100 relay at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, which run from Saturday to Aug. 27.

The Markham, Ont., native has had a tough year trying to bounce back after a 2022 season marred by injury.

The six-time Olympic medallist and reigning 200 Olympic champion understands how it is, though he's not necessarily impressed by it.

"It's tough, you know, with injuries and obviously starting the season off not the way you want it could put you in that category, I guess," he said. "I'm a team sport guy, I come from a basketball [and] soccer background, so it's all regular season to me.

"When the playoffs come, that's the championship, that's when you've really got to bring your A game and that's what my main focus is, right? ... We have these Diamond Leagues or [other] competitions, it's like the regular season and the world champs or Olympics is the playoffs and that's when you've got to bring your star power."

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While he ignores much of the conversation around the favourites heading into Budapest, he is kept informed by those close to him.

"I feel like I hear that a lot, I guess I'm the underdog," he said. "When I first came into track and was racing Usain Bolt, I was the underdog, and then people saying the Americans, I'm the underdog.

"I don't let that bother me because I know what I've accomplished and what I've done and what I'm capable of doing. I just never really let that phase me and focus on myself and try to just make sure that whenever the championships do come, that I'm there and I'm ready to perform."

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